Depression is a mental health issue, but it can also affect your physical well-being. Unfortunately, Big Pharma insists that depression should be treated with pharmaceutical treatments that are often linked to various negative side effects.
Many of these drugs from Big Pharma don’t always work, and some of them are linked to an increased likelihood of suicidal or homicidal behavior.
If you or someone you love has depression, try addressing your symptoms with natural treatments like getting enough sleep and following a balanced diet.
How Big Pharma classifies depression
Mental health professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM IV) to classify mental illness. DSM IV is currently undergoing revision and will soon be released as the DSM V.
There are several classifications for depression:
- Adjustment disorder with depressed mood
- Bipolar disorders
- Dysthymic disorder (A condition the DSM V seeks to reclassify as Chronic depressive disorder)
- Major depressive disorders
The DSM V also proposes the inclusion of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). But isn’t it unusual (or to be expected) that Big Pharma already has ads for a pill that can allegedly treat PMDD, before it has been officially included as a diagnosis?
A blood test and microscopic evidence can not diagnose depression and diagnosis is based on subjective reporting and objective observation.
If you have depression, you may experience the following symptoms frequently:
- Appetite disturbance
- Feelings of sadness, inappropriate guilt, or worthlessness
- Sleep disturbances
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Note that opposing symptoms are included in the list above.
For example, sleep disturbance can refer to either insomnia or excessive sleep. Your appetite can be diminished or increased.
Grieving, which may be diagnosed as an adjustment disorder with a depressed mood, may include all of the symptoms of depression, but not the duration.
Clinical depression can be either episodic or ongoing. As the name suggests, seasonal affective disorder is seasonal.
But if depressive symptoms are not caused by grief, what triggers them?
Conventional medical treatment from Big Pharma targets brain chemistry. But they treat the symptom, not the cause.
The foundation of natural remedies for depression
Your brain is an organ that, like everything else in your body, has its health dependent on gut health.
Like any symptom of dysfunction or disease, overall health can be maintained with proper nutrition, exercise and detoxification.
This means if you want to boost your mental and physical health, you should start by having healthy habits:
- Eliminate all alcohol, drugs, nicotine and processed foods
- Avoid foods and beverages with harmful ingredients like artificial flavorings and colors, corn syrup, preservatives, refined sugar and GMOs
- Avoid allergens and soy
- Follow a balanced diet that includes fresh, organic vegetables and fruits
Exercise regularly
It can be hard to wake up early and go on a run every day, but according to studies, exercise alone can be as effective as pharmaceuticals in treating depression.
Start a home garden
If you prefer low-intensity activities, why not try gardening? This hobby even ensures that you can enjoy the literal fruits of your labor.
Aside from being an accessible form of exercise, gardening can also help you relax as you connect with nature and get fresh air.
Exercise with a pet
Take your dog or cat for a walk to give your pet extra attention and get some exercise in for the day. If you are too busy to go to the gym, going on a walk with your furry best friend daily is a fun and simple way to get exercise.
If you don’t have a pet, visit shelters that need volunteers to walk or play with their animals.
Go for a walk
Walking to work or to the grocery store counts as exercise. You can also try to make walking enjoyable by walking to your favorite coffee shop or walking with a friend or family member.
Get enough vitamin D
Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D. However, if you suffer from depression seasonally, you may also need light therapy or vitamin D supplementation.
Consider taking supplements with healthy fatty acids and B vitamins.
Get a good night’s sleep
Having healthy sleep habits can help boost your mental health.
Set an alarm early in the morning and spend time in the early morning light. Go for an early morning walk if you need more exercise.
Early morning light will help set your internal clock if you have insomnia. If you have poor sleep habits, try to force yourself out of bed if you sleep at odd hours.
Where does the mind-body connection fit in when it comes to depression?
A chronic condition can be a subconscious or conscious choice.
Just like how you choose your lifestyle and commitment to health, anyone with a mental health issue may need to ask themselves some hard questions:
- What am I getting out of this?
- What does being depressed do for me?
Until you face the truth and discover what being depressed does for you, it can be almost impossible to make healthy changes that can help you get better.
When you have depression or anxiety, you must sometimes force yourself to face this often harsh truth. Don’t adopt a self-indulgent victim mentality.
Try to overcome your losses or traumas and avoid the victim mentality.
While psychotherapy was designed to help you gain insight and develop new behaviors and thought processes, therapy is often limited by the skill of the clinician and the motivation of the client.
If you want to try undergoing psychotherapy, choose a therapist who understands the mind-body connection and practice self-discipline.
Exercise as a natural remedy for depression
Different forms of exercise offer different benefits for your overall health, and all exercise decreases stress hormones and increases endorphins, or the natural chemicals in your body that help elevate your mood.
Exercise also helps your body release adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine, which are all natural chemicals that have a role in maintaining proper mental health. If possible, exercise outdoors and in nature.
Below are the top four choices for fighting depression naturally:
High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is great for your overall health. HIIT can boost your speed and power quickly and it helps your body release a lot of endorphins.
Try HIIT if you don’t have a lot of time for a full workout.
Weight lifting
Weight lifting can help boost testosterone, which is crucial since low testosterone can cause depression in men and women.
It can also show fast results in muscle tone and physical appearance, which can boost self-esteem, a common problem in people with depression.
Yoga
If you prefer slower workouts, try yoga. It can help heal, energize, balance and rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit.
Cardio
You don’t need expensive equipment for activities like cycling, running and swimming. Cardio is great for maintaining your overall health and it offers many benefits.
Supplements that may help if you have depression
Try the supplements below to beat depression naturally:
Herbs
- Ashwagandha
- Ginkgo
- Holy basil
- Kava kava
- Maca root
- Sage
- St. Johns wort
Nutrients
- 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
- Magnesium
- Multiple mineral formula
- N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC)
- Vitamin B complex
- Vitamin D
Infections, antibiotics and depression
Data suggest that having regular yeast infections or athlete’s foot or taking antibiotics recently can influence your mental health.
The human brain is closely linked to your gastrointestinal (GI) tract and your mental health is dependent on also having healthy intestines. Mental health issues like anxiety, bipolar disorder, or depression can be caused by an imbalance of gut microbes like fungi and harmful bacteria.
If depression is affecting your quality of life, look for natural treatment methods instead of taking medication that may cause adverse side effects.
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